Episode 122: The malice of greed
Empress Eris of the Eris Empire is an evil woman.
However, it is not an innate evil. She also had a time when she was pure and innocent.
"Look, Eris. That person is Ares-dono, who will become the next head of the Evans Lane family."
"Make sure you remember his face, okay? He is the heir of a great nobleman who has been entrusted with the administration of the southern region by His Majesty the Emperor."
Eris first met Ares when she was eight years old. The Evans Lane family, the current imperial family of the Eris Empire, was a great aristocracy, and the Eris family was also a noble under the protection of the Evans Lane family.
I was introduced to him by my father and mother, and only learned about him unilaterally from a distance.
However, Eris fell in love at first sight.
(What a dignified person...)
Appearance is important for aristocrats.
It would be fine if it was appropriate, but there are some nobles who confuse bravado with pretentiousness. Eris was confident in her own beauty, and there were many children of poor aristocrats who wanted her to be engaged because of her beauty. It's a child's play after all, and there's no need to take it seriously. However, Eris, who took the engagement requests of these children seriously and looked down on them with mockery, seemed to have grown up, and she was just a child who admired adults.
After six years, Eris will be at the age where she will get engaged. Eris was working hard to become Ares' fiance.
"Elise! What's with all the splurge these days? You're wasting too much!"
"It's not a waste of money, father! This is for Ares-sama to see for the first time!"
"The more times I tell you that my family's status is different from that person's, you'll understand. I'm planning to give you a suitable son-in-law."
"I don't like it!"
"Elise!"
At that time, Eris and her father often argued.
Even after six years, Eris remained a child.
As a noble, her family doesn't have that much power. She was a noble who only managed one town and six small villages. It is not suitable for a great aristocrat like the Evans Lane family who rules over a vast area of land. That meant that Eris was no match for Ares.
Unless Ares specifically chooses Eris as his fiancée, this is impossible.
"Come on, stop dreaming."
"It's not a dream! I, I..."
There are several noble women who are suitable for Ares. The women were recognized by the Evans Lane family as fiancée candidates, and each of them was also polishing their skills to become a fiancée. Not only in terms of beauty as a woman, but also in terms of education, she is of a high standard that cannot be compared to ordinary aristocratic women.
Unless Eris surpasses even the filter of family status, there is no way for Eris to become Ares' fiancée.
That's why it was a waste of money.
(I... have to become beautiful... become beautiful, Lord Ares...)
She was a child through and through.
He was a pure and innocent child.
However, when it is mixed with strong greed, it becomes unconscious malice.
She became a bad girl.
…………
......
……
…
Eris wakes up in a bed with a canopy and immediately rings the bell to call the maid. Then I helped her change out of her nightgown and into her everyday dress.
“Your Highness the Empress, how are you doing today?”
"I don't feel well. It's not good...I had a dream about the past."
“A long time ago…?”
"Yes. It's the dream of the fool who tied me up and forced me to be miserable. I feel sick."
Eris' sensitivity is close to that of a child.
Even though he has the normal thinking and judgment skills of an adult, his standard is a child-like sensibility. Also called selfishness.
The maid was familiar with Eris' personality, so she first gave her some good news to get her in a good mood.
"Your Highness, the perfume requested by Rukia Shokai has arrived."
"It's too late. About a month?"
"Yes. Shall I bring it to you right away?"
"That's right. Please bring it to me."
The maid signals with her eyes and has another maid bring the perfume.
During that time, I kept Eris entertained by gossiping so she wouldn't get bored. After a while, a beautifully crafted wooden box is brought to you. When it comes to being used as a purveyor to the imperial family, it is normal to pay particular attention to the exterior. Inside, there are items that are of a first-class quality.
When I opened the box, there was a light blue liquid in a glass bottle.
“This, this.”
Lightly drop some perfume on the back of your hand and check the scent.
Eris was satisfied that the scent was stronger than usual.
Then he orders the maid.
"Tonight, I'm going to His Majesty's sleeping quarters. After taking a bath, I'll apply this perfume, so get ready."
"I got it"
A fascinating perfume created by the black cat "Wakaeda".
And it was the seductive perfume that Eris, who was from a lowly family, seduced Ares.
Even now, she uses this perfume when making a ``request'' from Ares.
◆◆◆
Shu and Iris temporarily left the fairyland and visited the imperial capital.
The purpose was to steal research on space magic. However, it is unclear how much technology is being researched, so it may end up being a waste.
"I did my homework until yesterday... but the security is tighter than I expected. Iris is home as expected."
“It’s happening again!?”
"It's troublesome to go in from the front. If it's just me, I can slip through by turning into a spirit."
"Huh...I can't help it."
Iris cannot be said to be a hindrance, but her ability pales in comparison to Shu. There's nothing Iris can do that Shu can't do.
Basically, the two of them try to be together.
It's to protect Iris in case of an emergency.
However, when infiltrating a dangerous place, Shu also prefers to act alone if he determines that it would be more dangerous to take Iris with him. An example of this is the current case and the assassination mission as the ``God of Death''.
"This inn has high security and is oriented towards luxury. And it also hides its face with a genjutsu. As long as you don't leave your room, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Keep the bed warm."
"It's a different place to sleep. I wonder why they made it into twin beds."
After the usual exchange, Shu looked out the window.
Beyond that, you can see the palace where the emperor lives. The information from ``Takame'' is that the magic research institute that studies state secrets is located in one of the towers within the palace.
It's difficult to infiltrate a research institute inside a palace, even if it's a research institute in the suburbs.
The reason I couldn't take Iris with me was because of the location.
"I'll be back"
“I’m waiting!”
"ah"
Shu uses his magic to create a black cloak, hides his entire body, and exits through the window. Then, under the cover of darkness, she made her way along the rooftops to the palace.
◆◆◆
Shuu, who hid himself through illusions caused by his spiritual form and vibrational magic, easily infiltrated the palace. In front of Shu, high barriers and strict security are meaningless.
(I'm sure this is it)
Because I have done thorough research, I remember the directions to the tower where my magic research is being conducted. The guards patrolling the area don't notice the invisible Shu and just pass by.
The palace of the Eris Empire has a strict security network in place to guard against intruders, and a normal intruder would be detected and arrested before they could reach the building. The guards are either magicians or excellent magicians. At the same time, there are many magicians who are excellent researchers. Such a magician studies in the tower.
The tower is built in such a way that it doesn't stand out.
However, when Shu, who is also a magician, looked at it, he saw that it was heavily protected against magic. It's the same technology as magic tools. He has given positive magic to the tower itself.
(I'm making some efforts, but...it's still a little slow)
It is designed so that an alarm will sound even if the magic is locally erased with death magic. In other words, if you use death magic without thinking, you will be noticed.
In that case, you should use it more boldly.
Kill all the magic planted in the entire tower with death magic.
Shu grasps the magical power and makes a gesture as if he is crushing it with his right hand. Then all magic disappeared. The defenses and warnings disappeared all at once, so no one noticed. Even the most talented magicians never expected a situation where all of their magic formulas would be erased all at once.
(Okay, let's get what we're looking for.)
Shuu slowly disappeared into the tower.
◆◆◆
At the same time, Emperor Ares and Empress Eris were sharing a bed in the inner chamber of the palace. The two already have three sons who are potential successors. However, Elis regularly slept with the Emperor.
This is to seduce the emperor and make him do what he wants.
There is no limit to greed.
Eris got Ares, and she also wanted something else.
"Hey, Ares. It's about the fairy you were talking about before. Is that okay?"
"Fairy...fairy...ah"
"Fairy blood gives you eternal beauty. You want me to stay beautiful forever, don't you?"
“Uh, ah, ah.”
Ares is so empty that it's hard to imagine considering his normal, rational appearance. Her tongue was numb, her rhythm was unsteady, and her eyes were floating in space.
The seductive perfume that ``Wakaeda'' mixed has robbed Ares of his ability to think.
She was in a state where she was nodding to Eris' request.
The advantage of this drug is that its effects are long-lasting. Although their ability to think is only taken away for a short period of time, they are gradually brainwashed. By repeating this every day, Ares becomes under the illusion that Eris' request was something he had decided on his own. It was such a terrifying drug that ``Wakaeda'' concocted. By the way, it has no effect on women.
"We're going to get rid of all the fairies. Isn't that good?"
"ah……"
Due to the effects of drugs, ethics are removed.
And it makes women feel attractive.
Due to these two effects, Ares cannot refuse Eris' wish. In fact, he feels an obsessive urge to listen.
"Fairy...get it..."
"Yes, Ares. Please, okay?"
"ah……"
An emperor of a great country made a decision that he should not have made.
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